Austal Hosts US Defence Delegations

Western Australian shipbuilder Austal has hosted a series of influential international military personnel at its shipyard.

Visits to the shipyard began with high-ranking representatives from the United States Army's Tank-automotive Command (TACOM) who met with Austal senior management. TACOM has already indicated its intention to issue a tender for the design and construction of a series of high speed Theatre Support Vessels (TSV) that would be similar to the 101 metre Austal catamaran already operating with the US Marine Corps.

The delegation, which included Colonel Genaro J. Dellarocco, TACOM's Project Manager, Force Protection and his immediate superior Col (P) Patrick O'Reilly, Program Executive Officer - Combat Support and Combat Service Support, were visiting the shipyard for discussions regarding the potential for Austal's aluminium shipbuilding technology in the TSV role. While at the shipyard they were able to tour an 86 metre catamaran ferry that will enter service in the United States shortly and Austal’s ground-breaking 126 metre trimaran that is currently under construction for ferry operator Fred. Olsen.

Austal Managing Director, Mr Bob McKinnon said the delegation spoke highly of Austal's operations, saying: "It is often difficult to ascertain the magnitude of the projects under construction here at the yard. With this in mind, it is certainly advantageous for potential customers to visit the operation and see the projects first-hand. The delegation from TACOM was particularly impressed and praised Austal's scale and professionalism."

Austal also hosted José Veléz, the Head of Naval Combat Ships Project Office for the United States Navy's governing body, NAVSEA. He indicated a particular interest in the stability and operability of the trimaran. Austal is proposing the trimaran platform as part of its participation in the USN's Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) project.

"As with many other visitors to the Austal yard, viewing the Fred Olsen trimaran was an excellent demonstration of our design and engineering capacity. It also provides solid evidence that Austal can produce trimarans of the size and capacity required for the LCS project," Mr McKinnon said.

Further visits from Australian and international defence personnel are scheduled for the coming weeks. In addition Col O'Reilly and Col Dellarocco are expected to visit Austal's US shipyard in Mobile, Alabama during March.

Austal has launched the first of ten patrol boats for the Middle East and the design phase continues for the Royal Australian Navy's Armidale Class patrol boats with construction expected to begin in mid-April.